Mr Arthur Ernest Read Lewis

Arthur Ernest Read Lewis was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 24 May 1884. He was the son of Thomas William Lewis (1862-1922) and Elizabeth Maria Read (1862-1947). His father was a brewer's clerk and had married Elizabeth Read in 1881 in Southampton.

At the time of the 1891 census the Lewis family were living at an address in Bugle Street, Southampton. Besides Arthur and his parents were his brothers Albert Henry (b. 1882), Victor Owen (b. 1888) and Edward Leonard (b. 1891). The family are at the same address by the time of the 1901 census except that Arthur and his elder brother are missing. New additions to the family by the time include: Frederick Montague (b. 1893 ), Horace Augustus (b. 1896), Adelaide Dorothy (b. 1898), and Grace Mabel (b. 1901). A further child would be born in 1905, Marjorie Winifred.

Arthur reportedly went to sea aged 14 and served on a Hospital Ship during the Boer War. He was married in 1902 in Southampton to Violet Clara Kearslake (born in Southampton on 12 June 1885). Their first child Archibald Albert was born in 1905, followed by Stanley Claude in 1909.

On the 1911 census Arthur and his family were living at 18 Frederick Street, Southampton. His profession is listed as hotel manager. When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 99 Ratcliffe Road, Southampton. His last ship had been the Empress. As a third class steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Following the Titanic disaster Arthur and his wife went on to have three more children: Leslie (b. 1915), Leonard (b. 1920) and Thomas (b. 1922). Arthur served with the Army Service Corps in France during WWI but returned to seafaring thereafter. During WWII he became a member of the National Fire Service on the Queen Mary when she was a troopship and later worked the Isle of Wight run for the Red Funnel Line. He retired at the age of 72.